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Venture Beyond
Two worlds. One girl. A fate torn in two.
Rylie’s life has always been a balancing act. In the kingdom of Hollow, she’s the fearless leader of a rebellion, fighting to overthrow a wicked queen. But in Colorado Springs, she’s a restless teenager navigating a complicated relationship with her father.
When she finds herself unable to return to Hollow, Rylie is forced to team up with her greatest enemy. With the rebellion teetering on the edge of war, her people need her more than ever. But in order to return, she must confront the mysteries of Hollow’s past—starting with her father’s lies. In the fight to save a kingdom, some truths will shatter everything.
In the thrilling sequel to Venture Below, the quest for truth unravels secrets and betrayals in a high-stakes fantasy brimming with magic, female fury, and a simmering romance that burns through the chaos.
Rylie’s life has always been a balancing act. In the kingdom of Hollow, she’s the fearless leader of a rebellion, fighting to overthrow a wicked queen. But in Colorado Springs, she’s a restless teenager navigating a complicated relationship with her father.
When she finds herself unable to return to Hollow, Rylie is forced to team up with her greatest enemy. With the rebellion teetering on the edge of war, her people need her more than ever. But in order to return, she must confront the mysteries of Hollow’s past—starting with her father’s lies. In the fight to save a kingdom, some truths will shatter everything.
In the thrilling sequel to Venture Below, the quest for truth unravels secrets and betrayals in a high-stakes fantasy brimming with magic, female fury, and a simmering romance that burns through the chaos.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2025
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Ann Wright
2 books401 followersTaylor Ann Wright is an author who weaves engaging stories filled with adventure and emotional depth. When she isn’t writing, she draws inspiration from her travels and diverse experiences, seeking new perspectives and stories along the way.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 23, 2025
LOVE!!!! OMG, I need the next book IMMEDIATELY!
This book leaves you on a huge cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next.
I am in love with this world and these characters (especially Leo iykyk🤗❤️) and I feel so connected to them.
If you love a good YA fantasy then this is the book for you!
This book leaves you on a huge cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next.
I am in love with this world and these characters (especially Leo iykyk🤗❤️) and I feel so connected to them.
If you love a good YA fantasy then this is the book for you!
November 22, 2025
What a book!
I had so much fun reading book 2. Learning more about Rylie and other characters mentioned in book 1. And the ending had me gasping and yelling "OMG!".
I cannot wait for book 3!!!!!!!
I had so much fun reading book 2. Learning more about Rylie and other characters mentioned in book 1. And the ending had me gasping and yelling "OMG!".
I cannot wait for book 3!!!!!!!
December 16, 2024
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this lovely addition to the Venture series.
4/5 stars! It was an easy, quick-paced read with lots of excitement. Highly recommend!
The only reason it gets a "4" instead of a "5" is personal preference. It has nothing to do with the author. She's talented, has clear writing, and pushes the boundaries of the genre.
Perfect book for middle grade/YA.
4/5 stars! It was an easy, quick-paced read with lots of excitement. Highly recommend!
The only reason it gets a "4" instead of a "5" is personal preference. It has nothing to do with the author. She's talented, has clear writing, and pushes the boundaries of the genre.
Perfect book for middle grade/YA.
May 1, 2025
"If you hadn't tried so hard to control me, I wouldn't have fought so hard to be free" (Wright 131).
We get more world building in this book with the interesting introduction to alchemy which I was very excited about for this fantasy novel.
This book is told almost entirely in Riley's perspective save for two chapters whereas the previous one had alternating POV's, and, TBH, I would've preferred more variety. There are times where I feel distant from Adelaide when, in the spirit of her self-discovery, I'd like to be confused with her. I feel we miss that part, and it's incredibly important to the teens-transition-to-adulthood story this wants to be.
Riley very much knows who she is and what she's willing to do to fight for what she believes in and who she wants to protect. She is a graduating high school teen "from our world" who knows this fantasy world is where she's always truly belonged, making her an easy character for any fangirl to resonate with. Her father while absent appears very loving and protective of her, standing at a stark contrast with Adel's mother Seraphina, though they both clearly have their own expectations for their daughters' futures. It's a lovely way of showing that well-meaning figures in our lives can still be holding us back and we have to figure out what the right thing is for ourselves rather than go along with what is easy.
Watching the friendship between Riley and Adel bloom was the most rewarding part of the series thus far for me. I especially love how through Riley's friendship Adel finds a piece of herself when she realizes she's not only her mother's daughter but also her father's and that his compassion lives within her too. I'm such a girls girl that I adored the love in this book was almost entirely platonic.
I also appreciate that there is a character very obsessed with Riley, but you'll see how she finds a partner who supports her rather than puts her on a pedestal. Not all relationships in fiction need to be healthy to have a reason to be there, so I like how Wright handles all these romantic entanglements. It also reminds us just how young these kids are since it feels very "high school drama" but the stakes are way higher, giving that nice "grow up too fast" theme. She's framing the toxic ones as such but allowing her characters to claim not only their femininity (whatever form that it takes) and find joy in companionship.
The pleasure of these books comes from the characters and their dynamics and personal arcs while the fantasy world feels less developed. It feels more "general medieval fantasy" and the time dedicated to enriching the world further is in the magic and how it relates to the main plot, so go into this with the expectation of focusing on the older teens and the rebellion. To be honest, I found it reminiscent of Higson's "The Enemy" (with ofc a significant lack of zombies) so if you enjoyed that vibe then you'll like Beyond.
We get more world building in this book with the interesting introduction to alchemy which I was very excited about for this fantasy novel.
This book is told almost entirely in Riley's perspective save for two chapters whereas the previous one had alternating POV's, and, TBH, I would've preferred more variety. There are times where I feel distant from Adelaide when, in the spirit of her self-discovery, I'd like to be confused with her. I feel we miss that part, and it's incredibly important to the teens-transition-to-adulthood story this wants to be.
Riley very much knows who she is and what she's willing to do to fight for what she believes in and who she wants to protect. She is a graduating high school teen "from our world" who knows this fantasy world is where she's always truly belonged, making her an easy character for any fangirl to resonate with. Her father while absent appears very loving and protective of her, standing at a stark contrast with Adel's mother Seraphina, though they both clearly have their own expectations for their daughters' futures. It's a lovely way of showing that well-meaning figures in our lives can still be holding us back and we have to figure out what the right thing is for ourselves rather than go along with what is easy.
Watching the friendship between Riley and Adel bloom was the most rewarding part of the series thus far for me. I especially love how through Riley's friendship Adel finds a piece of herself when she realizes she's not only her mother's daughter but also her father's and that his compassion lives within her too. I'm such a girls girl that I adored the love in this book was almost entirely platonic.
I also appreciate that there is a character very obsessed with Riley, but you'll see how she finds a partner who supports her rather than puts her on a pedestal. Not all relationships in fiction need to be healthy to have a reason to be there, so I like how Wright handles all these romantic entanglements. It also reminds us just how young these kids are since it feels very "high school drama" but the stakes are way higher, giving that nice "grow up too fast" theme. She's framing the toxic ones as such but allowing her characters to claim not only their femininity (whatever form that it takes) and find joy in companionship.
The pleasure of these books comes from the characters and their dynamics and personal arcs while the fantasy world feels less developed. It feels more "general medieval fantasy" and the time dedicated to enriching the world further is in the magic and how it relates to the main plot, so go into this with the expectation of focusing on the older teens and the rebellion. To be honest, I found it reminiscent of Higson's "The Enemy" (with ofc a significant lack of zombies) so if you enjoyed that vibe then you'll like Beyond.
December 20, 2024
I was honored to be an Arc reviewer for Venture Beyond. If you loved Venture Below, this second installment will blow you away! The intricate relationships amongst the cast of characters is so well done, and I found myself falling in love with main and supporting characters alike!
The prose has developed in a way that not only shows the characters’ growth, but the authors as well! I started and finished this book in the matter of a couple days because I simply could not put it down!
If this is the trajectory the series is heading in, go ahead and sign me up for the third installment!
The prose has developed in a way that not only shows the characters’ growth, but the authors as well! I started and finished this book in the matter of a couple days because I simply could not put it down!
If this is the trajectory the series is heading in, go ahead and sign me up for the third installment!
November 23, 2024
I was lucky enough to read an arc copy of this sequel. Fast-paced and filled to the brim with secrets, lies, and so much YEARNING!
February 2, 2025
This book was a four year long JOURNEY. So proud of it, and I hope readers fall in love with these characters the way I have. 💖
September 14, 2025
LOVE LOVE LOVE
March 25, 2025
Love love love this book! I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the 3rd book! Left on a pretty surprising cliff hanger which I do not particularly love cause it makes me want more and breaks my bank. Haha
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews